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Bolton town centre 'is a mess'

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BWFC71 wrote:
Does Councillor Clifford &quot;I dont care about the people just as long as I get my pay and pay rises in ALL of my jobs" Morris ever go into the town centre?

It is a complete eyesore. Manchester Road - boarded up shops, empty spaces where buildings have been knocked down or burnt down. Bradshawgate, boarded-up shops , buildings empty for long periods that vandalism has taken place. Basically on THE main road into Bolton between Great Moor Street and just after Orlando Bridge there is no business, no offuces in use and its a complete wasteland. Infact coming into Bolton from any direction is like as though one is entering a war-torn country with all the wastelands, boarded up buildings, vandalism etc etc etc.

CLIFFORD MORRIS - OPEN YOUR EYES!!!! YOUR PARTY AND LEADERSHIP HAS DESTROYED THE ONCE RICH AND INDUSTRIAL TOWN! YOUR OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED!!!!

Now get back and do your other two jobs which seem to be more important to you than actually trying to get Bolton better!!!

Councillor Clifford most recent working records:
Head of school governors - was replaced as school lost money and could not afford repairs. But now head governor at another school and things, from what I have heard, are going from bad to worse for the school!!!

Head of Bolton NHS - forced out of his job by the government due to failing the community and moeny not, and still not, accounted for. Next thing you know he accepts a job with the AGMA Health department for even more money than what he was on at Bolton NHS (why has he not been questioned by the police or other authorities over the missing money???)

Head of Bolton Council - just look at the state of Bolton Town Centre - chain shops closing, Other shops threatening to leave, full of pound shops and high APR money lending outlets - boarded up shops in the centre of town, wastelands in the centre of town - now currently ranked behind Bury and Chorley who have both survived the recession and actually prospered (as well as Wigan, Manchester, Salford Quays, Walkden and Swinton). Failed Farnworth - in fact Farnworth is just as bad as Bolton now for the shocking state it is in!!!

Was a shareholder in Smithills Coaching House - funny how the council approved the change of use and building on green-belt land so easily, after the restaurant closed down!!! How much money did he make from teh sale to Jones' Homes???

So that is one person with 3 jobs and 2 wages and other income and he has failed at everything he has touched - It is no wonder the town is in a state it is - he is happy with his money, doesn't care about people, jobs, buildings, voters. Its about time Morris and his cronies were either forced to resign through mis-management or vote them out in the next locals!!!

Well said"

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A ROW has erupted between one of Bolton’s Labour MPs — who branded the town centre “a disgrace” — and the leader of the council.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, made the claims after he was criticised for publishing a political pamphlet with a picture of empty shops in Bolton town centre headlined “closed for business”.

The Boltonian pamphlet claimed government policies were sending people “from the town centre to the JobCentre”.

“It’s in a mess and we need to pull together and do something about it.

“The reason for it is the state of the economy. I’ve been going on about this for years and years, with the rise of internet shopping and we’re facing a triple-dip recession.

“We need to take action and we need a long-term plan.”

But Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris called on the MP to get behind the town.

Cllr Morris said: “We don’t think it’s helpful to talk the town centre down. We shouldn’t forget 20,000 people work in the town centre.

“Bolton is actually holding its own compared with our comparable rivals, and we work with businesses to try to attract investment.

“The coalition’s economic policies are hurting the town centre, because people’s spending powers have been reduced due to wage freezes and high VAT on goods.

“We know that the town centre faces a significant challenge and will have to restructure to reflect the changed economy and customers shopping habits.

“We have put a strategy in place, which we believe responds to these challenges.”

Mr Crausby has now spoken to Bolton Council’s director of regeneration, Keith Davies, about the issue.

The MP said: “I’ve met with Keith Davies and told him what I think.

“I don’t think the solution is to have more town centre shopping and more town centre living.

“We need more green space, more industry and leisure in the town centre.”

Mr Crausby’s pamphlet was first criticised by Conservative Bradshaw councillor Mudasir Dean, who said the town’s Tory group had been previously attacked by Bolton Council’s ruling Labour Party in the past for calling for more action to regenerate the town centre.

He claimed Bolton’s Labour Party was sending out “mixed messages”.

At a council meeting in October, Astley Bridge Conservative Cllr John Walsh was jeered by the Labour benches, branded “a dinosaur” and accused of “bashing Bolton” after he called for a debate on town centre regeneration.

Cllr Dean said: “Whenever the Conservatives have tried to contribute by offering positive ideas to improve our town centre, we have always been accused of “knocking the town centre and not supporting it” — these were the exact words of the Labour leader Cliff Morris at a council meeting.

“The Boltonian has been sent out headlined Closed for Business — and if this is not knocking the town centre then what is?

“I suggest Mr Morris and Mr Crausby work out a single message they want to give the people of Bolton on this sensitive matter.”

Bolton’s Conservative leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh added: “I suggest Cllr Morris has a word with Mr Crausby to get him on message.”

Cllr Morris said: “We’ve given this message to the Tories, and we’d ask David Crausby to also support our town centre, rather than knock it.”

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